Johnson,+Brian

Technetium(Tc)

Atomic Number: 43 Atomic Mass: 98 Transitional Metal Solid  Element 43 was predicted on the basis of the [|periodic table], and was erroneously reported as having been discovered in 1925, at which time it was named masurium. The element was actually discovered by Perrier and Segre in Italy in 1937. It was found in a sample of [|molybdenum], which was bombarded by deuterons in the Berkeley cyclotron, and which E. Lawrence sent to these investigators. Technetium was the first element to be produced artificially. Since its discovery, searches for the element in terrestrial material have been made. Finally in 1962, technetium-99 was isolated and identified in African pitchblende (a [|uranium] rich ore) in extremely minute quantities as a spontaneous fission product of uranium-238 by B.T. Kenna and P.K. Kuroda. If it does exist, the concentration must be very small. Technetium has been found in the spectrum of S-, M-, and N-type stars, and its presence in stellar matter is leading to new theories of the production of heavy elements in the stars. 
 * History **

 **Uses**
 * The metal is an excellent superconductor at 11K and below.
 * The element is a remarkable corrosion inhibitor for steel.
 * It is reported that mild carbon steels may be effectively protected by as little as 55 ppm of KTcO4 in aerated distilled water at temperatures up to 250C.
 * This corrosion protection is limited to closed systems, since technetium is radioative and must be confined.